Connect a third-party domain to your Squarespace site

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Connect a third-party domain to your Squarespace site

Last updated October 09, 2026 20:40

Link a domain you bought elsewhere, like Bluehost or Hover, to your site.

If you purchased a domain from a third-party provider (like Bluehost, GoDaddy, or HostGator) and want to keep it registered with them, you can connect it to your site. You’ll use a process called DNS Connect or domain mapping. There's no limit to how many domains you can connect or register to your site.

Also try: Connecting a Squarespace domain to a Squarespace site or registering a custom domain with Squarespace

Tip: If your domain is eligible, we recommend transferring it instead of connecting it. Learn more about the differences between transferring and connecting or get started with a transfer.

Video about the domain connection process

Watch a video that reviews the steps needed to connect your third-party domain to your site.

Can I connect my domain to my Squarespace site?

To connect a domain registered with another provider to Squarespace, your setup must meet these requirements:

• Your site is either on a free trial or a paid Squarespace website plan.
• Your site is active. To connect a domain to an expired site, reactivate it first.
• Your domain provider offers full DNS access. Most common domain hosts do, if you have trouble with the steps below, ask them to grant you full access. If they don't or can’t offer full DNS access, transfer it to Squarespace or a new provider.

When can't I connect my domain to my site?

You can’t connect your third-party domain to:

• A specific page on your site, such as yourdomain.com/blog. All connected domains point to the homepage and link to the same location as the primary domain.
• A parking page.
• A domain that has the word “squarespace” or “sqsp” in it.

After I connect my domain, do I still need my third-party provider?

Yes. You must keep the domain registered with your provider to stay connected to your Squarespace site.

Can I connect a domain with special characters in it?

Yes. You can connect a domain with special characters (such as ü, é, ñ), but it may not display properly on all browsers. If a browser can’t display the character, it reformats the domain with extra characters and dashes. For example, the domain “übercool.de,” redirects to “xn--bercool-m2a.de” in unsupported browsers.

Will connecting my domain break my custom email address?

No. If you have an email account linked to your domain, you can use your email address after connecting your domain.

Is this the right domain connection process for my domain?

The connection process you use depends on the type of domain you have and where it’s registered.

Country-specific domains

Country code top-level domains (ccTLDs), like .uk or .jp, follow different rules than most other domains. Before connecting a ccTLD to your site, review the specific rules and requirements for the ccTLD.

GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Network Solutions domains

If you have a domain from GoDaddy, Namecheap or Network Solutions, you can connect your domain using nameserver connect. We recommend using nameserver connect as it’s an easier process to complete.

Steps for specific third-party domain providers

To find the exact connection steps you need, browse our list of guides for common providers. If you find one for your provider, use the steps in that guide to connect your domain. If there isn't a specific guide, follow the general connection steps below.

Step 1 - Start the connection in Squarespace

To connect your domain, start in your Squarespace site:

1. Open the Domains panel.
2. Click Use a Domain I Own.
3. In the Enter Domain field, enter the full domain name you’re connecting, then click the arrow.

Note: If you see a message that says “This domain is already connected to another Squarespace site,” check your other Squarespace sites to find where the domain is connected. Then disconnect it from that site. If you can't find the site where your domain is connected, contact us for help.

1. Click Connect Domain.
2. Select your domain provider from the dropdown menu. If you don’t find your domain provider, select Other.
3. Click Connect Domain.
4. In the message that appears, click Continue.

Step 2 - Log into your third-party domain provider account

The second part of your domain connection process takes place in your domain provider's account (the company that hosts your domain). There, you'll add the DNS records needed to connect your domain to Squarespace. To open your provider's DNS settings panel:

1. In a new browser tab or window, log into your domain provider's account..
2. Find your domain's DNS settings. Use our provider-specific guides or your domain provider’s support documentation to find it. Depending on your provider, this may be called:
3. DNS
4. Advanced DNS Records
5. Manage Domains
6. Zone File Settings
7. Here, you'll follow the next steps to edit or add CNAME and A records. Don't delete MX records during this process. MX Records connect your email address. Deleting them could interfere with your email service.

Step 3 - Add CNAME records

Next, you'll add two CNAME records needed to connect your domain.

Add the first CNAME record (a unique verification code)

The first CNAME record verifies you own the domain using a unique code. If you don't add this CNAME, or if it's entered incorrectly, the domain will unlink from your site after 15 days. If this happens, you can follow the connection steps again to reconnect the domain.

To add the first CNAME record:

1. Return to the Squarespace DNS settings panel you left open in another tab or window.
2. Copy the unique code listed in the Name column. The code is a random string of characters. If the unique code isn't there, skip this step.
3. Return to your domain provider account's DNS manager.
4. Add a new record and select CNAME as the record type. If you can't add this CNAME due to your provider's settings, add a TXT record instead.
5. In the Host, Name, or Alias field, paste the unique code.
6. Enter verify.squarespace.com in the Points to, Value, or Data field.
7. Save the record.

Here is a quick reference for adding the first CNAME record:

Add the second CNAME record (for www routing)

The second record is another CNAME with www as the host. To add this record:

1. If there's already a CNAME record with www as the host, edit that record so it points to ext.cust.squarespace.com. If the www CNAME isn't there, add a new record following the next steps.
2. Select CNAME as the type.
3. Enter www into the Host, Name, or Alias field.
4. Enter ext.cust.squarespace.com in the Points to, Value, or Data field.
5. Save the record.

Here is a quick reference for adding the second CNAME record:

I can't point to www using a CNAME record

If your domain provider doesn't allow multiple CNAME records, you can use an A record to point www to an IP address instead:

1. Follow steps 1 through 3 of the A record instructions below.
2. At step 4, enter www in the Alias, Host, or Name field.
3. Enter 198.185.159.144 in the Points to, Value, or Destination field.
4. Save the record.
5. Proceed to step 4 and add the three remaining A records.

Step 4 - Add the A records

As a next step, you'll add four A records:

1. While still in your third-party domain provider's DNS Settings, find the A Records section.
2. If there are already A records added, delete them, but don't delete any other records.
3. Add a new record and select A as the type.
4. Enter @ in the Alias, Host, or Name field. If your provider doesn't accept @ as an Alias, Host, or Name, leave this field blank or enter your domain without the “www” in front (just the root domain).
5. Enter 198.185.159.144 into the Points to, Value, or Destination field.
6. Save the record.
7. Repeat steps 3 through 6 to add three more A records using these IP addresses in the Points to, Value, or Destination field. You can find all four of the IP addresses in the Squarespace DNS Settings panel too:
8. 198.185.159.145
9. 198.49.23.144
10. 198.49.23.145

Here is a quick reference for adding the four A records:

Step 5 - Wait for the connection to complete and check its progress

After adding these DNS records, it can take 24 to 48 hours for the connection to start working properly. While you wait, you can review the connection's progress in the Domain overview panel:

1. Open the Domains panel.
2. Click your domain.
3. Click View DNS settings.
4. When the domain is correctly linked, it will show a green “Connected” label in the Domains panel.
5. If the “Connected” label doesn't appear yet, you can refresh the records to check for updates.

Troubleshooting issues after connecting a domain

To resolve common connection issues, visit Troubleshooting third-party domain connections. Some common issues include:

• A domain not connecting after 48 hours
• Error messages in the DNS panel
• “This website is pending domain owner verification” message
• SSL certificates not generating, or you're seeing an error message about privacy when visiting the domain
• The domain suddenly disconnects

I still need help connecting my domain

If you still need help connecting your third-party domain to your Squarespace site, there are other resources to get support:

• For help with DNS settings in your third-party domain provider's account, contact their support team. To help them understand your issue, you can use our sample message.
• To have a professional connect your domain for you, you can hire a vetted Squarespace Expert.
• Get advice from the community in the Squarespace Forum.

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Connect a third-party domain to your Squarespace site